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Rep. Maloney Condemns Administration’s Defunding of UNFPA

Apr 5, 2017

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Following the announcement that the Administration will cease all funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), a strong defender of international family planning and UNFPA, released the following statement:

“Few organizations save as many women’s lives as the UNFPA and I deeply oppose the Administration’s cruel decision to cut funding for this essential organization. The United States is a founder of this organization and should be funding its efforts. Sadly, though, we’ve seen this before. Eliminating millions of dollars from this organization will have a devastating impact on the women around the world who rely on the integral services UNFPA provides.

“UNFPA provides essential maternal healthcare in areas suffering from humanitarian crises, including those we are currently witnessing in the Middle East. According to the organization, in 2016 alone, US funding prevented 100,000 unsafe abortions and 10,000 maternal deaths. In the Jordanian Zaatari refugee camp, UNFPA has helped deliver 7,000 babies without a single maternal death. The administration’s refusal to fund the UNFPA and its work is a life-threatening decision.

“Furthermore, the State Department’s determination is not based in fact. UNFPA does not support or fund abortions or sterilization anywhere in the world. Targeting this organization for working with Chinese health agencies to bring better healthcare to women and girls is a thinly veiled excuse to cut family planning services to women who need them the most. UNFPA has a proven record of success in serving the health needs of women and their families around the world and we should be supporting and expanding these efforts, not slashing funding for them.”